Walker's Wisconsin, no longer safe for people...

It's almost impossible to pin point what exact era, free from science, Republicans want to take Wisconsin back to.

Sure, the lakes, rivers, wetlands, and geological makeup of Wisconsin differs greatly from other states, that goes without saying. But Republicans, who can't stop complaining about one-size-fits-all big government regulations, are now demanding a one-size-fits-all federal approach to environmental regulation. Never-mind that Trump is targeting those same federal regulations for termination too. That would take us back to the anything goes rough and tumble 19th century.

...and it only took 7 years...

And you can bet their loyal rural voters won't give a damn, as long as they keep getting tax cuts. Again, Republicans are dismantling the EPA, and state Republicans that know that, but are still assuring us the EPA will be there. And it doesn't matter how different geographically our state is. This is what they call "balance," a bullshit feel good word that tips the scale dramatically away from the public good, and life sustaining clean water and air.

Republicans want to eliminate state protections for wetlands and air quality except when mandated by the federal government, saying they are costly for businesses.

About a million acres of wetlands could be left vulnerable and as many as 300 hazardous air pollutants could become unregulated.

The proposal’s backers point out that it would preserve the current legal requirement ... “Wisconsin is one of just a small handful of states that recognizes a class of wetlands beyond what is defined by the federal government,” state Sen. Roger Roth ... “It is with this smaller portion of total wetlands where our bill seeks to strike a balance.”

The wetland association’s Erin O’Brien called it a “pay to pave” plan. “They are eliminating a permit system in favor of just writing a check for permission to fill in a wetland,” O’Brien said.

Air pollution bill: Republicans Rep. Jesse Kremer of Kewaskum, Rep. Cody Horlacher of Mukwonago and Sen. Duey Stroebel of Saukville were seeking co-sponsors for a bill to require the DNR to repeal state rules limiting pollutants not regulated under federal law. “Currently, the DNR regulates nearly 300 more hazardous air pollutants than what is required by federal law, and of those regulated less than a third are actually emitted ... This creates an undue burden on Wisconsin businesses...”

States regulate pollutants that may not be problems nationwide, but can harm health or the environment regionally, such as ammonia from food processing and chlorine dioxide from paper mills in Wisconsin, said Tyson Cook of Clean Wisconsin, which mapped pollution sources that would no longer be regulated under the proposal.

Why does this sounds so wrong, yet so acceptable to Republicans Kremer, Horlacher and Stroebel:

 "(Who) are also seeking support for a bill to stop DNR monitoring of air quality in Kohler-Andrae State Park in Sheboygan County, and to seek an EPA waiver of penalties. Republicans and the DNR say some of the ozone pollution there comes from Illinois and Indiana.

The Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters said the proposals needlessly undercut protections for public health.

Kremer’s research director, Nik Rettinger III said,“All the bills have been receiving solid support among southeastern Wisconsin legislators (whose) constituents and job creators are directly affected by these burdensome policies, as well as legislators from throughout the state who believe these common sense reforms are important to take up to help everyday folks do business in Wisconsin.”

Air quality problems in southeastern Wisconsin have led to monitoring and alerts when pollutants reach unhealthy levels.

Need I bring up all the other Republican proposals to take out public lands and trash em:

• Limit public opportunities to contest DNR decisions, eliminate an automatic hearing with an administrative law judge and rolls back a judge's authority to halt mining activities if such a hearing was granted.

• Ends DNR authority to require a mining company to provide evidence that its solid waste disposal process will protect ground water indefinitely.

• Repeal a law requiring the DNR to deny a mine's request for a high-capacity well that would unreasonably harm the ability of others to have drinking water or enjoy lakes and streams. Instead require the mine to replace a dried-up water supply or temporarily shore up the water level in an affected lake or stream.

•  Eliminate rules that address the specific problems that a mining project can cause by disturbing the flow of water above and below the surface.

Here's something that ignored and affected a whole bunch of local communities:

WPR: Wisconsin residents can no longer challenge state Department of Natural Resources permits for a high-capacity well if state officials failed to look at what the well might do to overall groundwater in the area. Republican lawmakers and Gov. Scott Walker got rid of the cumulative impacts challenge when they passed the state budget a year ago. 

WKOW took a look at Wisconsin's problem with climate change, something that will make everything worse above...

"latest installment of the award winning documentary series, "Our Wisconsin: The climate change effect," examines the environmental, social and political impacts of climate change in Wisconsin."